‘Someone could fall off bridge’

A TALLAGHT resident is calling for the Charles O’Toole footbridge over the N81, that links St Dominic’s with Tallaght village, to be demolished due to safety fears.

David Larkin, who lives near the bridge, told The Echo that he is concerned that people can climb over and walk along the outside of the bridge at the St Dominic’s end of the structure.

He claimed that he has witnessed young people climbing along the outside of the bridge, and fears there will be a serious incident if action isn’t taken.

“Someone could fall off the side of the bridge,” said Mr Larkin. “I’m asking for it to be demolished, or made safe.

“It’s a very busy bridge but, in my opinion, it doesn’t conform to the safety of people.

“The way it is, there has to be a question mark over the safety of that bridge.”

Mr Larkin also referred to how, in 2014, a judge called for the bridge to be closed and demolished as it presented a danger to the community.

The comments were made by Judge Anthony Halpin when two men appeared in Tallaght District Court charged in relation to the killing of Dale Creighton on the bridge the previous New Year’s Day.

Judge Halpin described the bridge as an “unholy” health risk because anyone who finds themselves in difficulty on the bridge is effectively caged in with no means of escape.

Other issues with the bridge also include the repeated breaking of the glass panels on the Tallaght village side of the bridge, which have been replaced by red plastic barriers cable tied to the bridge.

The Echo contacted South Dublin County Council and asked whether they were aware of the potential safety risks of the bridge and if any action would be taken, but a response wasn’t received at the time of going to print.